10 Ways To Slow Your Life Down.

1. TAKE PHOTOS
Go somewhere, anywhere. Go with a friend. Go alone. It doesn’t matter cuz the most important things you need is a camera and your pair of legs. Like what you see? Then snap it. One day, however many years from now, you can look at it and remember the story behind it cuz you didn’t miss that moment.


2. READ A BOOK

No, we’re not asking you to turn into a bookworm but stories have the power to bring you into a different world with you just sitting in your bed with an “Eat Pray Love”. It’s also a great way to let your imagination run wild – something you usually don’t have time for.



3. PLAN A ROAD TRIP

Roadtrips are fun, especially when you’re with friends but you guys are not going to go anywhere if you don’t properly plan it and DO it! Get yourselves away from the bustle of the city and into your adventurous spirits to discover a different world than the one you’re in everyday.


4. MOVIE MARATHON

The Potter series has just ended. It’s an awesome time to gather your Potter fan friends at one of your houses and watch all seven and a half Potter films. Be sure to stock up your popcorn and drinks cuz it’s gonna be a long day in front of the telly.



5. DISCONNECT YOURSELF

Phone calls, texts, IM chats, FB posts and messages – your life is just never on pause with all these distractions keep coming in. There’s never going to be a time where you can take a breather or relax with the constant flow of FB notifications you’re getting. At least, try going without Facebook for one whole week and see how it feels like.



6. BE ALONE

While hanging out with friends is fun, you still need your ‘me’ time once in a while. Keep one day reserved just for yourself and do whatever you like. A day where you don’t have to be chewed on by deadlines, trying to please others and getting your brain fried with information overload. Follow the commandments of Bruno Mars’ “The Lazy Song” – at least most of it.



7. SING IN THE SHOWER

If you’re usually taking a quick splash in the bathroom while running through a long list of mental to-dos, you probably forgot to karaoke Rebecca Black’s “Friday” as you rinsed the shampoo off. Take a long, rejuvenating shower (but not too long, or you’ll turn into a prune) and sing those annoying tunes outta your head.



8. GO FOR A WALK

More often than not, we’re always stuck inside– be it for school, work or at home – and technically that’s not very healthy. Try going for a stroll in the late evenings, alone or with a friend/family, when it’s not so hot, and observe the nature around you. You might even get into a good conversation with the person you’re with or get new creative ideas while you’re at it.





9. EAT SLOWER

Seriously, don’t rush through your food. Be like the French and savour the taste of your nasi lemak. You’re not in an eating competition so enjoy your meal while you can. Besides, eating slower actually makes you feel full while consuming less so you won’t end up overeating!



10. DO NOTHING

Yup. Just sit there or lie down and do absolutely nothing. Stare at the ceiling or blank out to the sound of silence. Take in deep breaths and try clearing your mind – imagine Yoda meditating with the Force till he can float! Meditation helps ease your mind and slow it down from all the panic and rush attacks it’s been getting.

The Secrets of Sahur

In Islam it's a sunnah that we fast, and I bet many of us feel better when we sahur compared to missing it. Like any other sunnah, there is a hikmah in sahur, here I reveal the secrets of sahur. (Taken from this book, of course..)

There are many hadiths that strongly suggest sahur in the Ramadhan. Among them Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Tirmidzi, and Nasai[3]. In these hadiths sahur is associated with blessings and goodness. In other hadiths by Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Daud and Nasai[4] we are asked to sahur to differentiate our fasting from the people of the book. The times we are recommended for sahur is further towards dawn, as it was said that we are told to delay sahur but hasten our fast breaking[5].

According to Imam Ibn Abdil Bar, all hadiths regarding to the delaying of sahur and the hastening of breaking fast are all sahih and mutawatir.There is a significance in a delayed sahur, as it can be considered as breakfast, thus we don't feel hunger upon our regular chores of the day. A researched showed that the most important meal of the day is breakfast, BBC News dated March 7th 2003 reported that taking breakfast preserves health compared to other meals in the day.

MADRASAH RAMADAN CAMP

In the name of Allah The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful and all praise to Allah, Lord of the universe and prayers are upon His final Prophet, Muhammad p.b.u.h. Alhamdulillah, we are given the opportunity to live in His world as the most respected creature as a caliph. As a caliph and also the servant of Allah, our duty is to obey and serve Allah and follow His Messenger, Muhammad p.b.u.h. in order to achieve the glory in life and in the Hereafter, as been mentioned by him in the Qur’an.

In conjunction with this Ramadan, the Dakwah and Training Bureau Mahallah Representative Committee (MRC) of Mahallah Abdul Rahman Ibn ‘Auf in collaboration with Mahallah Ummu Salamah had organized Madrasah Ramadan Camp (MRC 2011) with the theme; “Forming the true youth spirit through the miracles of Ramadan” on 12^th August 2011 -14^th August 2011.

The camp was successfully held at Kem Rimba Ria Suara Hutan, Sungai Congkak with the number of participants about 94 of students. Most of them had gave us positive feedback and we are really appreciate their willingness to sacrifice their time to join this program.

We hope that this programme could allow the muslim teenagers to comprehend more about the noble religion of Islam besides of going through a new and indelible experience of fasting during the Ramadan especially since this is their first time celebrating the holy month in CFS IIUM Nilai.

We are also hope that all the knowledge gained will be apply into their entire life, insyallah!

Lailatul Qadr : The Night of Power

Assalamualaikum,

Qadr means honour and dignity. Lailatul Qadr means the night of honour and dignity. It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira. Since this night enjoys the honour of having the first revelation brought to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, it has been named Lailatul Qadr.

This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadhan and most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person's lifetime. So, on this night one should pray nafil namaz, recite the Quran, do Tasbih, Zikr, Duas, etc as much as possible.

This night had already opened its gates of treasures when the angel for the first time had come with the Divine Message in the cave of Hira, but its auspiciousness has continued to be with us permanently. Every year in the month of Ramadhan, this night is given to the Ummah. Muslims engage in prayers, recitation of Quran and praying to Allah, as the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallamsaid: "The person who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven." (Bukhaari)

As the rainy season is suitable for farming, similarly for the attainment of nearness to Allah, specific times , specific days and specific nights are most suitable, e.g. the time of Tahajjud prayers, Friday prayers, month of Ramadhan, the Day of Arafah, etc. So also the Night of Power is the most suitable night for attaining nearness to Allah.

In the Hadeeth, we have been asked to seek it in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadhan. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasallam has said, 'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan'.(Bukhaari).

By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th night of the month of Ramadhan. No one night has been fixed so that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more nights in worshipping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of `Itikaaf (seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadhan is clear.

Some special prayers and Zikr for Laitul Qadr

1. Seeking Forgiveness. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa asked the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam that if she happened to get the night sublime what prayer should she say. The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam replied that she should say the following prayer :

"Allahumma innaka afuwwun kareemun tuhib-bul af-wa fa-afo anni"

(O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, loves forgiving, so forgive me.)

2. Reciting Astaghfar. The following should be recited as much as possible:

"Astaghfirullah hallazi la-ila-ha illa huwal Hayyul Qayyumo wa atu-bu ilaihe"

(I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Almighty, there is no God but He. He is self-Existent, the Eternal and I return to Him)

3. Reciting Surah `Inna anzalnahu...'

"Inna anzalnahu fee lailathil Qadr, Wa maa adraka maa lailatul Qadr.

Lailatul Qadri khairum min alfi shahr. Tanazzalul malai-katu var-roohu

fee ha bi izni Rabbihim min kulle amr. Salaamun heya hatta matla-il fajr."

4. Do Salatul Tasbih.

5. Do Afzul Zikr i.e. La ilaha illallah

THE BATTLE OF BADR 17 RAMADHAN

The Great Battle of Badr took place on the seventeenth of Ramadan, two years after the Hijra. This was the first battle that the believers ever engaged in with the disbelievers, and it is, by far, the most famous and most renown, becuase of the several extraordinary events that occured during it. Rasoolullah (saws) had encouraged the Muslims to oppose the Quraish caravan which was returning to Mecca from Sham. The Muslims went out with 300 and some soldiers not intending to meet a caravan of about 40 men, not intending to fight but only to overpower them. The caravan escaped, but Abu Sufyan had already sent word to Quraish to come and protect it. The Quraish marched with enormous army of 1000 men, six hundred wearing shields, 100 horses, and 700 camels, and luxurious provisions to last for several days. The disbelievers wanted to make this a victory that would put fear into the hearts of all the Arabs. They wanted to crush the Muslims once and for all and the odds were overwhelmingly in their favor. Imagine that the believers with their small army (including only 2 horses), going out with the intent of meeting a mere 40 unarmed man and instead meeting a well- prepared army of *3 times* their size.... Rasoolullah (saws) could have easily ordered the believers to fight and they wouldn't have hesitated to comply, but, he (saws) wanted to emphasize to his followers that they should fight out of conviction and iman and to teach us a lesson in the process. He gathered his followers to conduct shura (consultation). Many of the muhajireen ( the Muslims who emigrated from Mecca to Medinah) spoke up, using the most eloquent of words to describe their dedication. But there was one of the sahabah whom all the others envied for his statement to Rasoolullah (saws). He, Miqdad ibn al Aswad, rose up in front of the crowd and said, 'Ya Rasoolullah! We will not say to you like Bani Israel said to Musa, 'Go you and your Lord and fight, we are here sitting (waiting).' (surat al maa'idah). Go by Allah's blessing and we are with you!" And so Rasoolullah (saws) was very pleased, but in his greeat wisdom, he waited silently, and some among the Muslims knew what he intended. So far only the muhajiroon had given their consent, but it was the Ansar (the Muslims who lived in Medinah and welcomed the Muslims into their city) who had the most to loose in this stake and it was not a part of the pledge (that Rasoolullah had taken from the Ansar at 'Aqabah) for the Ansar to fight with the Muslims in foreign territory. So, the great leader of the Ansar, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh spoke up, "Ya Rasoolullah! Maybe you mean us." Rasoolullah (saws) responded in the affirmative. Sa'd proceeded to give a beautiful speech in which he said, among many things: "O Messenger of Allah, we have believed in you and we believe that you are saying the truth. We give you, based on that, our covenant to listen to and obey you.....By Allah, the One Who sent you with the truth, if you were to enter the sea, we would rush into it with you and 
not one of us would stay behind...May Allah show you in our actions what will satisfy your eyes. So march with us, putting our trust in Allah's blessings." Rasoolullah (saws) was very pleased by this and said, 'Forward and be of cheer, for Allah has promised me one of the two (the caravan or the battle), and by Allah, it is as if I now saw the enemy lying prostrate.' The Muslims marched forward and encamped at the nearest spring of Badr (closest to Medinah, which is north of Mecca). One of the companions, Al-Hubab ibn Mundhir, asked Rasoolullah (saws), ' Has Allah inspired you to choose this very spot or is it stratagem of war and the product of consultation?' Rasoolullah (saws) said, 'It is the product of stratagem of war and consultation.' So Al-Hubab suggested that the Muslims encamp further south on the nearest water well, make a basin of water for themselves, and destroy the other wells to thereby restrict to Quraish's access to the water. Rasoolullah (saws) approved of his plan and carried it out.[*] Then, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh suggested that a trellis or hut be built for Rasoolullah (saws) as a protection for him and to serve as a headquarters for the army. Rasoolullah (saws) and Abu Bakr stayed in the hut while Sa'd ibn Mu'adh and a group of his men guarded it. Rasoolullah (saws) spent the whole nigh preceeding the battle in prayer and supplication evn thought he (saws) knew that Allah (swt) had promised him victory. It was out of his (saws) love for and worship and submission to Allah (swt) that he did this. And it was said that this is the highest form of 'ibadah knowns as ''ain al yaqeen', a state of being completely dependant and submissive to Allah (swt), which distinguished him (in superiority) from Abu Bakr As siddiq (ra) who only had ' 'ilm al yaqeen', the certainty of the promise. Unusally, that same night, the night when tensions were mounting for one of the biggest events in history, the night before the battle that would signify the progress or defeat of Islam, instead of being nervous, worried and unable to sleep, the Muslim army enjoyed a sound and refreshing sleep. That night was the night of the 17th of Ramadan, the year 2 A.H. This was a Divine favor which Allah (swt) mentioned in the Quran: '(Remember) when He covered you with a slumber as a security from Him, and He caused rain to descend on you from the sky, to clean you thereby and to remove from you the Rijz (whispering, evil suggestions, etc.) of Satan, and to strengthen your hearts, and make your feet firm thereby.' [8:11] The seond favor from Allah (swt) mentioned in this verse is the rain that Allah (swt) sent upon the believers that very night. The place where the Muslims were to encamp was made of sandy ground which was hard to walk on becuase one's feet could easily sink in it. Allah (swt) sent the rain to make the ground firm under their feet and sent the sleep to make their hearts firm. The next morning, Rasoolullah (saw) was still asleep when Quraish was very closely approaching. Abu Bakr (ra) was very hesitant to wake the noble Messenger (saws), but was forced to do so becuase Quraish were approahcing quickly. The Muslims were arranged in ranks. When the two parties appoached closer and were visible to each other, Rasoolullah (saws) began supplicating, 'O Allah! The conceited and haughty Quraishites are already here and defying You and and belying Your Messenger. O Allah! I m waiting for Your victory which You have promised me. I beseech You Allah to defeat them.' He (saws) then gave strict orders that his men would not start fighting until he gave them his final word. He recommended that they use their arrows sparingly [1] and never resort to swords unless the enemies came too close. [2] The Quraish were haught and arrogant and confident in their superior number, weapons, and provisions but it is Allah (swt) who would decide the matter: '(O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgement, now has the judgement come unto you and if you cease (to do wrong) , it will be better for you, and If you return (to the attack), so shall we return, and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous it be, and verily, Allah is with the believers.' [8:19] The battle began with a confronation between three men from each side:

-- Hamza (Rasoolullah's uncle)vs.'Utbah ibn Rabi'a
-- Ali (Rasoolullah's cousin)vs.Al-Waleed ibn 'Utbah
-- 'Ubaidah ibn al Harith vs. Shaybah ibn Rabi'a


In the former two cases, Hamza and Ali killed their opponents, but 'Ubaidah (despite killing his opponent) was severely wounded and died about four or five days later. The fighting intensified, and many more duels broke out. In the midst of all of this, Rasoolullah (saws) continued to supplicate his Lord. He (saws) said, 'O Allah! Should this group (of Muslims) be defeated today, You will no longer be worshipped.'Abu Bakr witnessed this incessant supplication so He said to Rasoolullah (saws), 'O Rasoolullah, you have cried out enough to your Lord. He will surely fulfill what He has promised you.'

Immediate was the response of Allah (swt), Who sent down angels from the heavens for the help and assistance of Rasoolullah (saw) and his companions. The Quran marks this miraculous occurance: 'I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession.' Quran [8:9] Rasoolullah (saws), in his hut, dozed off a little and then raised his head joyfully crying and said, 'O Abu Bakr! glad tidings are there for you. Allah's victory has approached. By Allah, I can see Jibreel on his mare in the thick of a sandstorm.' Then he came out of the hut and exclaimed: 'sayuhzamul jam'u wa yuwwalloonad-dubur' Quran [54:45] (Their multitude will be put to flight, and they will show their backs.) This is in fact one of the miracles of the Quran becuase this verse was revealed in Mecca before any of these events at Badr had taken place. Omar (ra), upon hearing Rasoolullah (saws) proclaim this verse on this occasion said, 'When this verse was first revealed, I asked Rasoolullah what it means. What multitude? What deafeat? And Rasoolullah (saws) didn't answer me. But when I saw him recite it on that occasion, I then understood.' Then Rasoolullah (saws) took a handful of dust and cast it at the enemy and said : 'Confusion seize their faces!' As he flung the dust, a violent sandstorm blew like furnace blast into the eyes of the enemy. About this, Allah says: 'And you (i.e. Muhammad -saws) threw not when you did throw, but Allah threw.' [8:17] It was at this point that Rasoolullah (saws) gave orders to launch a full counter-attack. He incited the believers reciting the following verse: 'And be quick for forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and earth.' [3:133] The spirit of the Muslims was at it peak and they fought with the untmost courage and bravery severly wounding the Quraish army, killing many of their men and instilling fear in their hearts. The Muslims did not know that Allah's help was about to descend upon them. They only knew the odds that were apparent to both sides: 100 against 300, 700 camels against 70 camels, 100 horses against 2, enourmous provisions against none, an intent and preparation for war against an unprepared group of believers. Still, despite all odds, they had trust in Allah (swt) and His Messenger and they were willing and even hoping to give their lives of this dunya for the ever-lasting abode of Jannah. Because of their devotion Allah (swt) sent His help and victory.

In addition to sending down angels, Allah (swt) also brought another miraculous occurence to ensure the Muslim victory. Allah says: "'(And remember) When Allah showed them to you (Muhammad) as few in your dream, if He had shown them to you as many, you would have surely have disputed in making a decision. But Allah saved (you). Certainly, He is the AllKnower of what is in the breasts.'' [8:43] And indeed, Allah (swt) did fulfill His promise: 'And (remember) when you met (the army of the disbelievers on the Day of the battle of Badr), He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained (in His Knowledge), and to Allah return all matters (for decision).' [8:44] Many of the disbelievers were killed in this battle, the most noteworthy of which was Abu Jahl, the archenemy of Islam. When Rasoolullah (saws) set out to look at his corpse, he (saws) said, "'This is the Pharaoh of this nation."' And so the Muslims defeated the disbelievers in a humiliating defeat by the Help of Allah (swt). Indeed Allah, again, fulfilled His promise, "'Their multitude will be put to flight, and they will show their backs'" [54:45] The disbelievers, with all their might, turned their backs and ran away from the Muslims in disgrace and utter humiliation. Allahu Akbar wa lillah al Hamd.

[*] I the book by Dr. al Sibai, Sh. Jamal Zarabozo says that this story was not narrated through authentic chains, although it is mentioned in several famous books of seerah (with reliable authors) who were silent about its authenticity. Allahu a`lam.

[1] Sahih al-Bukhari, 2/568

[2] Abu Daud, 2/13